[Stuart Sweet]

DMA: Augusta, GA
Established: 8/24/2008

 

[makaiguy]

I am in the Augusta GA DMA. I confirm that I get HD on the three stations listed above.

In addition, there is a "dummy" Guide listing for

• NBC - WAGT (26)

so that there are TWO listings for this channel, just as if it WERE in HD. But both entries currently provide SD (480i). I can confirm that this station DOES broadcast in HD, as I can receive it OTA with my HR20.

 

[makaiguy]

Sent the following email to the station's Chief Engineer listed on the WAGT website:

Within the last week or so, DirecTV has started carrying the Augusta DMA stations in HD.

WJBF (6), WRDW (12), and WFXG (54) are all being delivered in HD. WAGT, however, is still arriving in standard definition (480i) via DirecTV. I know you are broadcasting in HD as I can get it over the air that way.

I expect you are aware of this already, but didn't want to take a chance that it was going unnoticed.

Received the following reply:

Thank you.

We are trying te get an answer from them about why they are doing this.

We hope to have it cleared up soon.

DDF

 

[makaiguy]

Posted to DirecTV via their website:

Customer (Doug Wilson) - 09/03/2008 10:52 AM
Broadcast of Augusta GA local channels in HD began on DirecTV a week or so ago.

The NBC affiliate, WAGT 26 is still being shown in standard definition although the other major network affiliates are now in HD. WAGT Chief Engineer claims problem is not at their end.

Boilerplate reply from DirecTV via email:

Response (Jerome G. - 100205818) - 09/03/2008 12:56 PM
Dear Mr. Wilson,

Thanks for writing. You've been with us since 1997 and we would like to thank you for keeping your business with us.

We can't currently offer all of your local channels in HD because our satellite capacity doesn't allow us to do that yet.

We're continuing to expand our HD capacity and hope to offer more HD channels in your area in the near future. However, we cannot comment on channels, national or local, that are in negotiations.

Sincerely,

Jerome G. - 100205818
DIRECTV Customer Service

A "satellite capacity" issue -- yeah, right. "Cannot comment on channels ... that are in negotiations...", now THAT I might buy.

 

[jacksonm30354]

Posted to DirecTV via their website:

Boilerplate reply from DirecTV via email:
A "satellite capacity" issue -- yeah, right. "Cannot comment on channels ... that are in negotiations...", now THAT I might buy.

As KYTV in Springfield didn't get added today, looks like it might be an issue with carriage agreements with the owner - Schurz Communications. (They own WAGT too).

 

[makaiguy]

As KYTV in Springfield didn't get added today, looks like it might be an issue with carriage agreements with the owner - Schurz Communications. (They own WAGT too).

Verrrryy interesting ....

 

[Doug Brott]

Added NBC - WAGT (26) to the lineup

 

[brbowen]

Can anyone confirm this? I still see the extra channel but it still looks like standard def on WAGT (NBC).....just not sure what i'm looking at....standard or hi def....

 

[brbowen]

Regardless of what is being said, WAGT (NBC 26) is still in standard def. Can anyone else in the Augusta GA market post what they are seeing?

 

[Bodawg01]

All I'm seeing is standard definition also.

 

[makaiguy]

To bring some closure...

I just checked and WAGT is now provided in HD via DirecTV. Don't know when this change went in place, as I was viewing exclusively OTA.